The Gatewood girls’ basketball team is ready to take the next step. The Lady Gators have been practicing hard individually during the off-season months and recently started summer workouts with the goal of improving as a team.
According to head coach Jordan Walters, she’s seen a lot of progress in her players over the last few weeks.
Two of her players have been competing in AAU tournaments and the others have been working with Walters. The girls working in the gym with her have been working on the essentials of the game.
“I have one rising junior and one rising freshman playing AAU. The rest of the summer has consisted of fundamental work and pick-up games,” Walters said this week. “A lot of freedom with these [practices] for the girls to work on individual aspects of the game that they feel they need work on.”
Walters added that summer workouts have been optional and sometimes draw only a few players at a time. However, that can play to Gatewood’s advantage as it gives the Lady Gators a chance to work one-on-one or a few at a time with their head coach and staff to advance their skills.
“Everything thus far has been individualized and optional. We opened up optional gym time for fundamentals and pick-up games for those who want to improve their skills,” Walters said. “So far, we are proud of those who have shown up, considering it’s optional. If they consistently show up, I will have a list of standout players to share during fall practices [going] into the winter season.”
During the 2022-23 season, Gatewood went 15-12 overall but had an 0-6 record in region play. The Lady Gators dropped two games each to league opponents Brentwood Academy, Westminster Christian, and Piedmont Academy. They endured a seven-game losing streak, too.
Nevertheless, even after ending the regular season on that long skid with another loss to Briarwood Academy, Gatewood didn’t give up. The Lady Gators got another chance at WCA in the first round of the GIAA Class AA state playoffs and were able to knock off the Lady Lions.
Walters felt as if her team hit a “bump” in the road, but it was finally able to get over it in the playoffs.
“During that WCA game, after only scoring two points in the first quarter, my girls decided to make sure they got over the hump,” she said. “When they set their mind to achieve a goal, they can overcome anything.”
It was one of the main highlights of Gatewood’s season. The Lady Gators defeated Westminster Christian 41-37 before losing to Citizens Christian Academy (CCA) in the next round. The Lady Cougars edged Gatewood 57-55 to survive and advance in the playoffs.
Despite losing in the second round, Walters said she felt her girls left it all on the court.
“The second-round loss was one of my proudest moments all season. We forced the game into OT (overtime). The opposing team (CCA) had quite honestly already written us off,” Walters explained about the playoff loss. “London Darden and Natalie Sills stepped up that game and assisted largely in our success. Even though we lost, I hope it taught our team what we are capable of when we decide we ‘want to.’ I hope that fire from that loss is still lit and inspires these girls to work in the offseason so we have a different outcome next year.”
Walters has learned a lot about her program since that loss to CCA. Her girls are now buying into the culture of hard work and determination that she and the rest of the Gatewood staff have been preaching.
Those select Lady Gators that are showing up to optional practices and workouts are already getting ahead for the fall. They are also learning a lot about themselves and the team at the same time.
“I have seen a select group of girls become even more motivated in wanting to improve their game,” Walters stated. “They’ve shown up to every optional workout, [been] asked to get in the weight room and set up time in the gym outside of organized practice for extra work. They have the fire it will take to put Lady Gators basketball back on the map.”
Gatewood graduated only one senior in Anna Williamson last month. Williamson helped lead the team and contributed on both ends of the floor, but Walters is excited about so many of last year’s players coming back. The program returns several starters from last season’s playoff team.
“I have a returning point guard who was our best offensive player and who I suspect will step up to be a leader this year, [and] I have our best defensive player who averaged four steals per game and found her shot at the end of the year,” Walters said.
“Both of our most-improved athletes, who could be incredible threats on both ends of the floor and our only rising junior that received the coaches award for always giving 100 percent on the court, [are coming back] next season," she added. "Also returning, I have our Rookie of the Year, who got big minutes as a rising freshman, along with three rising sophomores, and four other rising freshmen that had great seasons on JV last year.”